U.S. patent application number 17/428489 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-31 for plug closure.
This patent application is currently assigned to Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER, Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER. The applicant listed for this patent is Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER, Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER. Invention is credited to Gregory LALIER.
Application Number | 20220097929 17/428489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006061917 |
Filed Date | 2022-03-31 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20220097929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LALIER; Gregory |
March 31, 2022 |
PLUG CLOSURE
Abstract
A closure (10), especially useful for e-commerce. The closure
comprises a lid (16) and a cap base (12) which can be releasably
fastened to a container, the cap base including an opening (24).
The lid has a depending plug (26) extending therefrom which is
received within the opening in the cap base when the lid is in the
closed position. The opening is formed within a cylindrical opening
wall (88). When the lid is in its open position, extending
outwardly from the depending plug at its end distal from the lid
are one or more barb flaps (82). As the lid is moved to its closed
position with the depending plug within the cylindrical opening
wall, the barbs are pushed up against the walls of the plug and are
received within a recess in the cylindric opening wall. Within the
recess, the bar flaps abut an upper wall of the recess (40) such
that extra force is required to open the lid, e.g., during
shipping. When the consumer wishes to open the lid, he or she
exerts the extra force needed to force the lid open, which causes
the barb flaps to assume their original positions extending
outwardly from the cylindrical plug.
Inventors: |
LALIER; Gregory;
(Brookfield, CT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Conopco, Inc., d/b/a UNILEVER |
Englewood Cliffs |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Conopco, Inc., d/b/a
UNILEVER
Englewood Cliffs
NJ
|
Family ID: |
1000006061917 |
Appl. No.: |
17/428489 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
January 7, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2020/050230 |
371 Date: |
August 4, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 47/0838 20130101;
B65D 2547/063 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 47/08 20060101
B65D047/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2019 |
EP |
19155612.5 |
Claims
1. A closure (10) comprising a) a cap (16) and a b) a closure base
(12) having an opening (24), c) the cap having a depending plug
characterized in that the depending plug has at least one flap (82)
extending radially outwardly from the plug when the cap is in the
open position, and in that the at least one flap (82) being
deformable such that upon closing of the cap (16) the flap folds
upwardly whereby the upwardly extending flap provides interference
with the opening (24) of the cap.
2. The closure according to claim 1 wherein the opening (24) is
defined by a cylindrical wall (88).
3. The closure according to claim 2 wherein the wall (88) includes
a recess (40) which accommodates the one or more flaps (82) when
the cap (16) is closed.
4. The closure according to claim 3 wherein the recess (40)
includes a top wall and the one or more flaps abut the top wall
when the cap is closed.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Leakage of product during shipping of consumer goods can be
a costly problem. The problem is particularly acute in the realm of
e-commerce where individual bottles may be shipped directly to
consumers. It is somewhat easier to ensure intact shipment of large
numbers of bottles together from a manufacturer to a distributor
and/or retailer than it is to secure the product from leakage
during shipment of individual bottles to consumers. Likewise,
transport of a container by a consumer after it has been opened can
be an issue and result in product leakage.
[0002] One type of closure for consumer goods such as shampoos,
body washes, skin creams, etc. is the flip top closure which
typically comprises two pieces, a base piece which is attached
directly to the container, and a cap which is hingedly attached to
the base and which rotates between an open and a closed position.
While it is important that the consumer can remove the cap from the
base without use of Herculean strength, it is also important that
the cap not open due to forces generally encountered in
shipping.
[0003] Various types of closures are described in the
literature.
[0004] Delli Venneri US 2007/075030 discloses a closure having a
hinged lid connected to a base. The closure includes a latching
mechanism which includes a pin having a bead which is said to
engage in the manner of a barb behind an edge in the dispensing
opening.
[0005] Suffa US 2006/231518 is directed to a closure cap having a
lower part and an upper part connected by a hinge. A stopper is
located on an underside of the closure cap. The stopper may include
an annular collar which interacts with a corresponding annular
groove in a connection piece. Or it may include longitudinal ribs
which in the closed position of the closure cap come in contact
with a top side of a holding part and act as retention means.
[0006] Kunz, WO 03/086891 discloses a snap action hinged closure. A
sealing cylinder includes a sealing bead 43.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention is directed to a closure, especially useful
for e-commerce and to the closure combined with a bottle or other
container. Indeed, the base of the closing can be integral with the
container.
[0008] The closure comprises a cap base which can be releasably
fastened to a container, the cap base including an opening. A cap
is movably attached to the cap base and is suitable, when it is in
a closed position, for preventing egress of a liquid from the
container through the cap base opening. Portions of the cap base
constitute a barrier which together with the cap are suitable for
preventing egress of the liquid from the container.
[0009] The cap has a depending plug extending therefrom which is
received within an opening in the cap base when the cap is in the
closed position. The opening is formed within a cylindrical opening
wall. When the cap is in its open position, extending outwardly
from the depending plug at its end distal from the cap are one or
more barb flaps. As the cap is moved to its closed position with
the depending plug within the cylindrical opening wall, the barbs
are pushed up against the wall of the plug and are received within
a recess in the cylindrical opening wall. The bar flaps abut an
upper wall of the recess such that extra force is required to open
the cap, e.g., during shipping.
[0010] When the consumer wishes to open the cap, he or she exerts
the extra force needed to force the cap open which causes the barb
flaps to dislodge from their position abutting the upper access
wall and eventually to assume their original positions extending
outwardly from the cylindrical plug.
[0011] When the cap is closed it is further secured by a locking
flap on the cap which snaps into and is received within a recess on
the cap base.
[0012] The cap is preferably attached to the cap base using a
living hinge. Likewise, the barb flaps are preferably attached to
the plug cylinder wall using living hinges.
[0013] For a more complete understanding of the above and other
features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made
to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments and
to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is perspective view of a bottle having the closure of
the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the closure of the invention
removed from a container and having the cap in the open
position.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective, magnified view of the depending
plug of the invention seen in FIG. 2.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross section of the closure.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a cross section according to FIG. 4 with the
depending plug and adjacent structure in the closure base
magnified.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the depending plug in the
closed position with portions of the closure base cut away.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the closure of the invention
with the cap partly open.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Closure 10 comprises cap base 12 and cap 16. Cap base 12
includes top surface 14 and cylindrical skirt 13 depending from the
top surface. Skirt 13 includes semicircular recess 40, which is
shaped to receive a locking flange on the cap, as will be explained
hereinafter. Below recess 40 and is finger access recess 42 which
permits the consumer readily to unlock cap 16.
[0022] Cap 16 is movable and pivotably attached to cap base 12 by
living hinges 18. Placing cap 16 in the open position reveals
opening 24 in top wall 60 of cap base 12. It will be apparent that
top wall 60 will constitute a barrier to egress of liquid from a
package to which closure 12 has been fastened. Cap 16 includes
platform 22. Platform 22 includes depending cylindrical plug 26.
Cap cylindrical sidewall 28 depends from platform 22.
[0023] Plug 26 includes cylindrical wall 80 depending from the
underside of lid 16. At the end of wall 80 opposite that at which
it is attached to cap 16 are two barb flaps 82. Although the
invention is illustrated herein as having two barb, flaps those of
ordinary skill could readily determine whether other numbers would
be preferred in a particular application, e.g., one, three, four,
etc. Barb flaps 82 are connected to cylindrical wall 80 by thin
plastic hinges 84 which permit the flaps to move relative to
cylinder wall 80. Preferably, when in the cap-open position, barb
flaps 82 are disposed at an angle to the cylindrical wall, e.g., of
about 45-90 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the plug for the
right hand flap seen in FIG. 3., especially from 65 to 80
degrees.
[0024] Cylindrical wall 80 includes longitudinal slits 86 which
permit the diameter of the wall to decrease as needed to fit snugly
within opening 24 and wall 88. Cylindrical plug 26 is surrounded by
sealing ring 100.
[0025] At the opposite end to that at which it is attached with
living hinges 18, cap sidewall 28 includes a recessed locking
flange 38. When cap 16 is closed, locking flange 38 snaps into and
is received within recess 40 to help lock the lid 16 closed.
[0026] Opening 24 in base 14 is defined by cylindrical wall 88.
Cylindrical wall 88 includes at its end distal to the opening a
recess 90.
[0027] The cap is seen in the open position in e.g., FIG. 2 and the
cylindrical plug 26 is shown in FIG. 3 in the cap's open
configuration. When the consumer wishes to close the package, he
rotates the cap closed on hinges 18. As cylindrical wall 80
approaches opening 24, barb flaps 82 contact cylindrical wall 88
and are bent toward wall 80. When cap 16 is fully closed, barb
flaps 82 are accommodated within recess 90, preferably at an angle
of 100-180 degrees, as seen in FIG. 5, especially from 110-175
degrees, most preferably from 120-170 degrees again with respect to
the longitudinal axis of the plug.
[0028] During shipment of the package, or when being transported by
the consumer, e.g., during travelling, the presence of flaps 82
within recess 90 and abutting upper wall 94 of recess 90 increase
the amount of force which would be needed to open cap 16 thereby
minimizing the likelihood of inadvertent opening.
[0029] The consumer will receive package 11 including closure 10
and bottle 74. To open the package, the consumer inserts his or her
finger into recess 42 and lifts upwardly to pull flange 38 up out
of recess 40 and open lid 16. The consumer exerts the extra force
needed to overcome the resistance caused by the abutment of flap 82
against upper wall 94, thereby causing flaps 82 to turn downwardly
away from cap platform 22 permitting cylindrical wall 80 to be
moved upwardly through opening 24 as cap 16 is opened. When cap 16
has been opened and plug 26 is removed from opening 24, flaps 82
will, due to the resiliency of the hinge line 84, return to the
angle shown in FIG. 3.
[0030] Typically, the closure 10 of the invention will be fastened
to bottle 74 or other container, as is evident from FIG. 1.
Fasteners (not shown) will typically be present on the underside of
the closure and may include screws or snap fit mechanisms such as
debossments, embossments, etc. Mating screws or other fastening
structures can be present on the bottle neck.
[0031] During shipping of the bottle with the closure fastened
thereto, cap 16 and locking flange 38 are in their closed, locked
positions, such as may be seen in FIG. 1. In its closed position,
locking flange 38 is received within recess 40 and cylindrical plug
26 is tightly and lockingly releasably received within opening 24.
The diameter of plug 26 may be slightly greater than that of
opening 24 to provide a snap fit. Plug 26 together with cap base 12
prevent egress of liquid from bottle 74 or other container.
[0032] Transport via e-commerce often entails shipping products in
individual packages which may be less secure than the product
pallets often used by manufacturers in transporting large numbers
of products. The present closure affords an extra measure of
protection against inadvertent opening of the cap in response to
the additional stresses to which packages are subjected during
e-commerce transport.
[0033] The adaptor and living hinge will typically be made of
polypropylene or polyethylene. Post-consumer polypropylene may be
included as well. The adaptor and/or living hinge may also be made
from the hinge material described in Domoy et al. U.S. Pat. No.
9,637,626, namely a molded article having a hinge, the molded
article being a polymer, the polymer comprising a mixture of a
first high-density polyethylene (HDPE) resin and a second HDPE
resin, that is different than the first HDPE,
[0034] wherein, when mixed: the first high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) resin has:
[0035] a. a Melt Index (I.sub.2,16) of about 0.5 dg/min to 10
dg/min,
[0036] b. a Density of about 0.940 g/cm3 to 0.968 g/cm3, and
[0037] c. a Melt Flow Ratio (I.sub.21.6:I.sub.2.16) greater than
about 25;
[0038] and
[0039] the second HDPE resin has a Melt Flow Ratio
(I.sub.21.6:I.sub.2.16) of less than about 30. The disclosure of
Domoy et al. U.S. Pat. No. 9,637,626 is hereby incorporated by
reference herein. The closure will generally be fabricated using
injection molding.
[0040] It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms
of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to
be representative only as certain changes may be made therein
without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure.
Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended
claims in determining the full scope of the invention.
* * * * *